Enforcement and Contempt

A person is in contempt of court when he or she willfully fails to abide by a court order. When one party willfully fails to comply with a divorce decree, custody order, or fails to pay child support, that person can be held in contempt of court pursuant to a Petition for Contempt. If a judge finds that the party is in contempt, he or she is then subject to civil and criminal sanctions that can include fines, attorney’s fees, and even imprisonment.